Colleen Hoover Scrubs Instagram Amid Lively-Baldoni Legal Battle

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 12, 2025 — Colleen Hoover, the best-selling author of “It Ends With Us,” has returned to Instagram after briefly deactivating her account, only to erase all traces of actress Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni, who are embroiled in a high-profile legal dispute.

Hoover, 45, known for her 2016 novel that was adapted into a 2024 film, showed her support for Lively in December when the actress made allegations of sexual harassment against Baldoni, 41. Hoover’s departure from social media came as Lively and Baldoni prepared for initial court hearings.

The situation escalated when Baldoni countered with a $400 million defamation lawsuit against the New York Times and subsequently filed a countersuit against Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, 48, accusing them of attempting to sabotage the film’s release.

According to legal documents, Hoover had previously communicated to Baldoni in supportive terms about the film project, calling him ‘the best person for it.’ However, as the legal drama intensified, Hoover’s relationship with both the actress and director seemingly deteriorated, culminating in her recent social media actions. As of now, her Instagram features only limited promotional images devoid of any references to her collaborators.

During a hearing in New York last week, Lively’s legal team requested a two-week extension to file an amended complaint, which was ultimately denied by Judge Lewis J. Liman, allowing only a one-day extension. This decision has led to anticipation surrounding the adjustments that Lively’s team plans to make before the new filing deadline.

A source close to Lively expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling, stating, ‘We have no concerns with filing Ms. Lively’s amended complaint on or before February 18. We will be adding additional evidence to the amended complaint.’

The litigation has drastically impacted the film’s promotion and public reception, overshadowing its release, which took place on August 9, 2024. While both actors are at the center of the drama, Hoover’s withdrawal from the narrative further complicates the relationship dynamics.

In the emerging details of the struggle, it has been reported that text messages between Baldoni’s publicists revealed alleged strategies to discredit Lively, raising serious questions about the conduct on set. Hoover’s initial support for Lively, which included a public post praising her as ‘honest, kind, supportive, and patient,’ now stands in stark contrast to the current estrangement evident on her Instagram profile.

The tangled web of allegations has prompted both sides to intensify their public relations strategies. Baldoni’s team recently launched a dedicated website to provide access to legal documents and a timeline of events related to the case, further fueling media interest. ‘It’s important to point out that nobody is monetizing off this. It’s simply a landing page to have access to legal documents that are already public,’ a source stated.

As this story develops, both legal teams are preparing for the next stages, set to unfold in the coming weeks. Lively’s emotional claims about the alleged harassment have underscored the psychological toll the legal battle has taken, with her complaint delving into the ramifications for her family.